How to renew an old LLC in Tennessee: A step-by-step guide
Disclaimer: This is not legal or tax advice. Please seek appropriate counsel, attorneys/CPAs, for complex legal or tax issues.
If your Tennessee LLC has been administratively dissolved due to missed annual reports or other compliance issues, don’t worry—you can bring it back to good standing by following a few specific steps. Tennessee allows LLCs to reinstate their business status, but it’s important to act quickly and thoroughly to avoid ongoing penalties.
- File the Reinstatement Application: Start by completing the Application for Reinstatement Following Administrative Dissolution/Revocation, which you can file online through the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website or submit by mail. This form essentially requests the state to reinstate your LLC and verifies that you've corrected the issues that led to dissolution
- Pay All Missed Annual Reports: For every year that you failed to file an annual report, you’ll need to catch up. Tennessee charges up to $300 per year in annual report fees, based on the number of members in your LLC (up to $300 for most multi-member LLCs). You must pay each of these missed reports when submitting your reinstatement request.
- Verify Your Business Name Is Still Available: If too much time has passed since the dissolution, your business name might have been taken by someone else. If this is the case, you’ll need to choose a new name for your reinstated LLC.
- Submit Payment: Along with your reinstatement application and missed annual reports, include payment for all applicable fees. You can pay online or by check if filing by mail.
Once everything is submitted and approved, your LLC will be officially reinstated and returned to active status. It’s a good idea to monitor your LLC’s standing each year to ensure you don’t miss future filings. Regular compliance can save you from reinstatement hassles and keep your business running smoothly.